Ex-Pittsburgh school officer guilty of molesting 4
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A former Pittsburgh Public Schools police officer has been convicted of molesting four boys in the late 1990s, when he pulled them out of class and forced them to perform sex acts in a middle school broom closet.
The weeklong trial of Robert Lellock, 44, of Pittsburgh, ended Monday when a jury took just three hours to convict him of 13 charges including indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.
Lellock didn’t comment as he was taken to jail to await his Oct. 8 sentencing, when he’s expected to get several years behind bars.
“I was scared to death they weren’t going to believe what I was telling them,” said one victim, now 28, who prompted the investigation when Pittsburgh police learned of his allegations last year. The man had previously told a drug and alcohol counselor that he was molested, and years later the state police, before Pittsburgh police launched their probe.
The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sexual abuse.
Three other victims came forward when that investigation was publicized, and Lellock – who consistently denied the allegations and testified to that effect – was suspended without pay before resigning last year.
County prosecutors contend Lellock used his badge and uniform to intimidate the boys, all troubled students at the Arthur J. Rooney Middle School during the 1998-99 academic year. The school has since closed.
The victims testified that Lellock would concoct reasons to pull them out of class so he could molest them in the broom closet. Lellock contended he was meeting secretly with the boys to gather confidential information about misbehavior and other school problems.
“I’m so proud that my victims overcame the feelings of shame, fear and helplessness to stand up to their abuser, and that the jury validated their feelings,” Assistant District Attorney Patrick Schulte said.
Lellock’s attorney, Timothy Kidd, said of the verdict: “It was a clean sweep. It was a tough case.”
The 28-year-old victim, the only one of the four present when the verdict was returned, said of Lellock, “I just hope he rots in prison.”
“There was no remorse,” the man said. “I’m glad to know he can’t do this to anyone else.”